Billfold



A R E F P U L N R.

Oct. 8, i940.

D L 0 F L L I B Filed Feb. l18, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTORS @o h//AA BYW Z 2 n y ATTQRNEYS Oct. 8, 1940.

R. N. LUPI-'ER m- Ap. M7556 BILLFOLD Filed Feb. 18A 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y J /9 Fl/ I m 26 S F/cf. 6v 27 29 5 l 24 o 42 2s l 2 3 /5 BY@ e .*JZ 2.a.,

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Patented Oct. 8, 1940 BILLFOLD Robert N. Lupfer and William E. Whitmer, Springfield, Ohio, assignors to The Springfield Leather Products Company, Springfield, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,192

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination billfold and tray type coin purse wherein the tray type coin purse is mountedon one of the inner faces of the billfold and wherein the tray type coin purse is formed with an expanding bellows construction on both its sides and on the sides of the tray and wherein the tray type coin purse is formed of two pieces of leather, one of which forms the integral back of the purse and tray and the other of which forms the front of the purse, the rim on the tray and the bellows on both the tray and the purse, the front of the purse, the rim on the tray and the bellows on both the tray and the purse being integral with one another and formed from a single piece of leather.

It is an object of the invention to provide a combination billfold and tray type coin purse wherein the coin purse is mounted on one half of the inner wall of the billfold.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a combination billfold and tray type coin purse wherein the coin purse is secured to an inner face of the billfold at the marginal portions of the coin purse.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tray type coin purse and a combination -billfold and tray type coin purse wherein the coin purse is provided with an expanding bellows on the sides of both the coin purse and the tray so as to allow the front face of the coin purse and the rim of the tray to move outwardly whereby the coins are made more readily accessible.

It is still another object to provide a tray type coin purse and a combination billiold and tray type coin purse wherein the coin purse is formed of two pieces of leather, one piece forming an integral back of the coin purse and coin purse tray and the other piece forming an integral front of the coin purse, rim for the coin tray and bellows for both the front and the coin tray rim.

It is still another object to provide such a combination billfold and tray type coin purse wherein the back of the coin purse forms a pocket with the inner wall of the half of the billfold upon which it is mounted.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the comb-ination billfold and tray type coin purse, with the billfold unfolded to give access to bills contained in the billfold portion and to the various pockets, etc., carried on the inner faces thereof.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the billfold of Figure 1, but showing the tray type coin purse in opened position so as to give ready access to the coins contained therein.

Figure 3 is a side elevation o .the coin purse .end of the billfold of Figure 1, the tray type coin purse being in closed position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the coin purse end of the billfold of Figure 2, the tray type coin purse being in opened position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of Figure 2 on the line 5-5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 2 on the line 5 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the tray type coin purse only of Figure 2, on the line l-'l, looking in the direction of thearrows.

While reference is made hereinafter to the billfold as being made of leather, it is to be understood that it may be made of any suitable relatively thin, flexible, sufficiently strong, sheet-like material preferably either natural or artificial leather.V Also where reference is made to stitching, it is to be understood that other'suitable methods of fastening the component sections together, such as cementing, may be employed.

The combination billfold and coin purse comprises a billfold space I formed by stitching together at their ends 9 and lli, a backing piece 2 and an inner piece 3 of approximately the same length b-ut of less width than outer piece 2. Inner piece 3 is positioned so that outer piece 2 extends beyond it on both sides. This extension on the opening side of the billfold portion is clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 while this extension on the closed side of the -billfold section is indicated at 4 in Figure 5. 'I'he ends of pieces 2 and 3 may be stitched together by stitching at 5 and 6 which also holds other parts together in order to facilitate manufacture, or the so called sliding b-endarrangement may be provided whereby one end of the piece 3 may be allowed to slide within a sleeve formed by a pocket formed behind piece IE. As will be apparent the construction may be so modified that piece 3' extends to the side of piece 2 so as to eliminate extension 4, but the construction shown makes for thinness and compactness. The billfold section is adapted to have paper money such as bill l inserted into the space I by separating sections 2 and 3 at the opening side, and is adapted to then b-e folded along its middle 50 8 by bringing ends 9 and I0 together with leather piece 3 on the inside thus forming a compact unit adapted to be conveniently inserted into a pocket.

On the inner face of the structure thus formed,

that is, on leather piece 3, suitable pockets I I and I2 adapted to carry identification cards I3, I4 or the like, are formed by stitching to inner leather piece 3 suitably sized leather pieces I5 and I6, the stitching being on three sides of leather pieces I5 and I8, so as to form pockets having their open ends towards the fold portion 8, so that the cards therein will not be lost or damaged while being carried. A transparent window I'I may be formed in leather portion I6 so as to allow reading of identification card I4 without removing it from pocket I2. A key pocket I8 may be formed on leather portion I6 in any suitable manner.

The billfold thus far described is a typical example of what is known in the trade as a billfold of standard construction or a billfold of standard type Such a standard billfold is of the usual length when open or from about 81/2 to 91/2 and of the usual width of from about 3" to 31/2", having a pocket between the outer and inner wall to permit holding unfolded paper currency, being foldable in the middle and having pockets placed on one or both sides of the inner wall for cards or the like. The invention is particularly applicable to a tray type coin purse in combination with such a billfold of standard type.

In accordance with the present invention there is formed on one half of the inner face 3 of the billfold a tray pipe coin purse designated generally as I9. This coin purse I9 comprises a coin carrying space 20 formed by stitching to inner face 3 an outer pocket-forming leather piece 2| and an inner pocket-forming piece of leather 22. Piece 22 has an integral extending portion 23 which forms a tray flap designated generally as 24 which is adapted to close up the coin purse by being bent over at fold portion 25 and fastening it in that closed position by pressing together cooperating snap-fastener parts 26 and 2l.

Tray flap 24 of coin purse I9 is so constructed that it serves, when in the open position shown in Figures2 and 6, as a tray to hold the coins 28 in a position from which they may be readily removed with the ngers. Thus assuming that coins 28 are in coin carrying pocket II, the folded billfold is unfolded into the position shown in Figure 1. Tray flap 24 is then pulled outwardly into the position shown in Figure 2 and the billfold is then tilted so as to elevate coin space 28 and to lower unfolded tray ap 24 until the coins 28 slide from the coin space 28 onto the coin purse tray flap 24 where they are held by means presently to be described. The coin purse tray flap 24 thus forms a tray for the coins 28 so that they may be readily counted or may be readily removed therefrom with the ngers.

Tray ap 24 comprises the extending portion 23 of the coin purse back 22 and a rim portion 29 extending inwardly from edge 38 for a substantial distance so as to retain coins 28 when they are slid onto the tray ap 24 in the manner above described. Said rim portion 29 may be formed in any suitable manner as by stitching 3l, or by stretching and folding overthe edges of extending portion 23 in such a way as to form a coin retaining rim. The tray flap 24 is constructed so that coins 28 may slide under rim 29, as isI shown in Figures 2 and 6. The outward movement or upward tilting of rim 29, so as to allow the coins 28 to slide under said rim when they slide forward from coin space 28 onto the extending portion 23, is facilitated by the provision of bellows `32, 32 integral with said rim 29 and extending to the edge 39 of the tray flap 24, their extent being indicated by the. dotted linesY in Figure 2.

These bellows comprise bottom portion 33 and middle portion 34 forming a joint at 35, middle portion 34 also forming with rim 29 a joint 36. This bellows allows rim 29 to readily tilt or move upwardly so as to accommodate coins 28 when they slide forward. The construction described makes the tray type coin purse very thin so that the combination tray type coin purse and billfold of this invention is compact and convenient in use.

Bellows 32 are formed as extensions from similar bellows, designated generally as 3I, and located at the sides of coin space 20 between members 2I and 22, there being a break in the continuity of rim 29 at the fold 25 so as to make the tray type coin purse compact by freeing it from the bulkiness which would result were the rim 29 continued into and integral with the outer piece of leather 2I forming the coin space. Bellows 3'I are made up of bottom portion 38 and middle portion 39 forming joint 40. Leather piece 2I and middle portion 39 form a joint 4I. Section 38 of bellows 37 is an extension of and is integral with section 33 of bellows 32 and section 39 of bellows 31 is an extension of and is integral with section 34 of bellows 32. Sections 38 and 39, and consequently bellows 3'I, extend to the outer end 9 of the coin purse I9 where the coin purse is fastened together as by stitching 5. Bellows 3'I are integral with coin purse face 2|, with bellows 32 and with rim 29, all being formed from a single piece of leather.

This bellows construction allows the coin purse outer section 2I to readily move upward so as to allow free movement of the coins 28 outwardly of coin space 28 and so as to accommodate more coins in said coin space.

As will be understood from the foregoing assuming that the combination billfold and tray type coin purse of the invention is in the open position shown in Figure 2, coins are placed in the coin purse I9 as for example by placing them in the tray flap 24 and then lowering the end 9 of the billfold so as to cause them to slide into coin space 28 and the tray flap 24 is placed into the closed position shown in Figure 1 by engaging snap fastener members 26 and 21. The billfold is then folded at fold 8 by bringing together its ends 9 and I8 and is then ready to be placed in the Docket.

As -shown in the drawings the billfold assembly is stitched together at its ends 9 and Il) by means of stitching 5 and 6 and at its side by stitching 43 which extends along the entire side and holds the several parts in permanent relationship. Card pocket-forming portions I5 and I8 are stitched to leather piece 3 by the saine stitching where convenient and by stitching 44 and 45 at the open side of the billfold. The members 2| and 22 making up tray type coin purse I9 are stitched to the inner face of the billfold by the same stitching as that used for card pocketfornnng portion I5 where it is convenient. The use of a common stitching to hold several parts together makes for convenience and economy in manufacture.

As shown in the drawings a space 42 is formed between tray type coin purse I9 and leather piece I5 which forms card pocket II. This space 42 may be utilized for the carrying of a card 48.

A sliding bend construction may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

It is to be understood that numerous modications may be made in the combination billfold and tray type coin purse described herein without departing from the inventive thought and that all modications falling Within the terms of the appended claims are comprehended thereby.`

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tray type coin purse having a front and a rear wall and having a closing flap which has a coin-retaining rim extending inwardly from its periphery, said rim portion being discontinuous with said iront wall at the fold of said closing flap, and a bellows extending for at least a portion of said rim and for at least a portion of the edges of said front and rear Walls and permitting said rim to move outwardly from the flap whereby to more readily retain coins and permitting said front and rear walls to more readily move apart from one another, said bello-ws comprising an inwardly extending bottom portion forming a hinge with said rear Wall, and an intermediate portion forming both a hinge with said bottom portion and a hingewith said rim por-tion on the flap and with said front wall on the coin purse.

2. In combination, a tray type coin purse having a front and rear wall and having a closing.V flap, a coin retaining rim on said iiap, an ex-4 panding bellows extending along the side edges of said coin purse including said flap and between the said front and rearwalls and permitting said rim to move outwardly from the flap whereby to more readily retain coins, an upper folded portion of said expanding bellows forming the coin retaining rim on said flap, and another folded portion of said'expanded bellows forming the said front wall of said purse, said flap having a hinge line and said rim being discontinued at said hinge line, and a bill fold foldable in the middle thereof and acting as a backing for said purse, and means forattaching said purse entirely on one side of the fold of said bill fold.

ROBERT N. LUPFER.

WILLIAMA R. WHITMER. 

